Extra! Extra!

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Read all about it. This reflection is of the front window of this city's weekly newspaper, The Quincy Sun. This is historic Quincy's hometown first-rate weekly newspaper with a circulation of 6,000. The paper hits the news stands every Thursday and its stories cover community news, local features, high school and youth sports plus lots more. Thought the snowmen on the counter inside were a cute touch . . .

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

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In 1925 this handsome house at 346 Highland Avenue was built for Thomas A. Faulds, a Boston baker's supplies merchant and the Faulds family remained in residence until 1938. Its architecture, "Prairie Bungalow" style, has its roots in California and the Middle West and is very unusual for Quincy. The overall impression is that of a resort home of the Mediterranean area or Southern California where I wouldn't mind being today.

My Favorite Dentist

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February is Children's Dental Awareness Month so I've posted a picture of Dr. Allan Yacubian, who has been a dentist in Quincy for 39 years. He is friendly and kind and can be counted on to wear a bow tie and a smile when he tells you to open wide. He grew up in the "Norfolk Downs" section of Quincy and went to North Quincy High School where he became the model for the school's symbol and mascot, "Yakoo", 50 years ago. "Yakoo" came under attack in the political correctness of the 1990s but this did not diminish the spirit or commitment Yacubian gives to his profession, to his alma mater and to his community. But best of all he keeps my choppers chopping!

Do you have a favorite dentist?

Snow Study I

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This pole light stood out in the recent snow cover outside the Coletti addition of the Main Library. This tree also looks wonderful when the flowers blossom in the spring.

Snow Fun

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The recent snowfall was perfect consistency for making snow creations like this abandoned fort. My guess is that the builders went inside for some fortification. I really like the ingenious use and reuse of the recycle bin to make the blocks. There's
lots more fun to be had here . . .

Sunday is for Church

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The Islamic Center of New England has two sites: one Mosque is located on South Street in Quincy and the other in Sharon. I'm not sure if there is one special day for worship. Weekend School is held here on Saturday and Sunday.

Snowy window

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We just got a few inches of fluffy new snow. I like the simplicity of this window in the snow.

Water Police

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It's nice to know that our police are keeping our 27 miles of coast secure even in the wintertime.

Thursday is "This Old House Day"

Lots of architecturally significant buildings were constructed in Quincy in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many have been maintained over the years and have survived the wrecking ball and the ravages of time. One building will be featured here every Thursday. Why Thursday you ask? Thursday was chosen as a tribute to the public television program called This Old House because that was the night the program originally aired 29 years ago on public television in the Boston area.

Today's post is located at 86 Beach Street in the Wollaston section. The single residence is a fine example of an early Colonial Revival Style with a wrap around porch of the past Queen Anne period. I bet you can see Wollaston Beach from the widow's walk! The house was built around 1900 and was owned by the Chapman family until after 1935. It is a striking Colonial Revival style home and looks perfect with its coat of yellow paint.

Abigail's Last Crossing

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Since opening their doors in 1993, Abigail's Crossing ran a very successful gift store in the historic Adams Building on Hancock Street. Over the years it became a local landmark in Historic Downtown Quincy serving customers and tourists of all ages with a broad selection of gifts, collectibles, souvenirs and Quincy memorabilia. The doors will be closed sometime this spring which will leave a gap in the city for a good souvenir shop.

Woodward School for Girls

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When the Woodward School opened its doors in 1894, educating women was a relatively new concept, still not widely held as essential. Dr. Ebenezer Woodward, however, did not accept this approach and established a new school for girls that would be a companion to the Adams Academy for Boys founded by the former President of the United States, John Adams, who was both his patient and his relative. The Woodward School has always resided in the same Hancock Street location in what is now an historic building, the only school built in the Queen Anne style. The School opened its doors on April 10, 1894, with seven teachers and seventy-six students, and has operated without interruption through the present day. It now has an enrollment of 160 girls in grades 6-12.

Icy waters

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Winter is maintaining its grip on us in Quincy. This is an icy inlet in the Houghs Neck section of Quincy. From my unscientific observations, air temperature has to be at least 10 degrees below freezing for a couple days before we start to get nice looking ice formations along our saltwater estuaries. If you want to learn a bit more about salt water freezing, check here.

Sunday is for Church

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Tomorrow is Presidents Day so the "Church of the Presidents", also known as "Stone Temple" seems fitting to post because it contains the tombs of two Presidents: John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams and their wives.

Architecturally one of the finest houses of worship in New England, it illustrates a transition in style from Georgian and Federal to Greek Revival. Designed and built in 1827-28 by noted architect-engineer Alexander Parris, the designer of Quincy Market in Boston, the First Parish Church was constructed of blue granite from nearby quarries and represents one of the earliest uses of native granite as a building material in the United States. The 4 massive Doric columns in the front portico measuring 25 feet long and weighing 25 tons each, were hauled by oxen teams from the quarries to the construction site. John Quincy Adams provided the money for this edifice.

This church is a National Historic Landmark and a "must see" if you visit Quincy.

Wollaston Branch Library

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The Wollaston Branch of the Thomas Crane Public Library was erected in 1922 at 41 Beale Street by the versatile architect, William Chapman, whose practice was in Boston, although he lived in the Wollaston section of Quincy. This simple Classical Revival institutional building was built for $15,000 and in spite of its modest scale, is still an important component in the Beale Street streetscape. I really like the decorative pediment above the doorway. The library is listed on the National Register of Historic places.

Going up!

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This is the first phase of the new Quincy High School complex. There has been lot of progress over the last 5 months . School is in session in the adjoining buildings during construction.

Love letters

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Valentine's Day will be observed and celebrated in Quincy today. Giving loved ones and friends cards and sweet or sensuous things is a popular practice as well as dining out. School children here will exchange cards and small treats with their classmates. Do you celebrate this day in your part of the world? Happy Valentine's Day to all!

We've got mail!

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This simple granite 1940s Colonial Revival sub-post office station on Beach Street, in the Wollaston section, was designed by architect Louis A. Simon. It is one of Quincy's monuments to the WPA project launched in 1935 by President Roosevelt to tackle the Depression problem of aid for the unemployed through a work-relief program which built roads, schools, park structures and civic buildings. At the peak of the Depression, Quincy had over 10,000 people on relief rolls making worthwhile, long-lasting improvements to the city like the fine Post Office building shown here.

Frigid beach walk

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These two braved the frigid temperatures and strong winds for a walk on Wollaston Beach. Below zero wind chills are not fun but these two seem to be weathering the walk just fine. If you enlarge the image you will see a mini sand storm racing by their feet. The houses across Quincy Bay are in the Squantum section of the city.

The Red Devil

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If you enlarge this image you will see "Red Devil" written on the side fender. You don't see a "Red Devil" parked outside church every day.

. . .

Upon closer examination of this "handsome devil" (couldn't resist) I discovered two Boston Firefighter decals on the rear fender. What a perfect parking space for a firefighter . . . a fire hydrant and fire alarm box, curbside.

Sunday is for church

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The Quincy Community United Methodist Church is located on Beale Street, the commercial hub of Wollaston. This church is significant both as the first and oldest Methodist Church congregation in Quincy and in the development of Wollaston as a community. The construction of the Wollaston Methodist Church was done in two stages. In 1924, a parish house was built in the Tudor Revival style and a new sanctuary was added in the same style in the 1950s.

Come back tomorrow to get a closer look at that red 2-wheeler parked outside . . . you're in for a treat.

Over the fence

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These condos are converted factory buildings on Mellon Street in the Wollaston section. I like the two squirrel nests making a show in the winter treetop.

Booking it

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This light filled corridor at the Thomas Crane Library connects the original H.H. Richardson Building with the newest wing of the library. I frequent the library at least once a week and find that it is always well populated. Are there any other habitual library users out there? I would love to see a picture of your library.

Gung hay fat choy

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This Wollaston Avenue house is decorated for Chinese New Year. Quincy has a sizable Asian population of about 15,000, and will hold many community celebrations in the next couple weeks. May you have good health and prosperity in the lunar year ahead - - the year of the rat.

Circle of Life

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Lydon's Funeral Chapel, pictured here and in the background of yesterday's post, was built in the 18th century and given to a young lady as a wedding present from her father. This handsome building has also served as a birthing house, nursing home, and it's present function as a funeral home. Quincy residents who were born here have returned many years later to pay their respects.

The stone grotto-like structure functions as a waterfall in warmer weather. On occasion the grounds of the funeral home become enshrouded in bubbles from a local soap prankster.

Cottage business

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I've always liked this unusual one-room Irish cottage on Hancock Street in the Wollaston section. Perhaps "Clueless" & I should stop in and find out how we can pay less in taxes . . .

Bateman House

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This is the William R. Bateman House located at 148 Monroe Rd., in the Hospital Hill section of Quincy. It is an exquisite example of the Queen Anne period of architecture from 1875-1899. This private residence is listed in the National Register of Historical Places. Isn't it a beauty?

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I Couldn't help but notice the Patriots banner displayed outside the back entrance. I guess they'll have to put that away for next year.

Sunday is for Church

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As we continue our Sunday series of houses of worship, this week's church is St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Quincy Point on Washington Street.

Tank shadows

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This picture was taken of one of the behemoth oil tanks from Sprague Energy tank farm located just behind the lighthouse gas station on the Southern Artery and Town River.

Anyone want to hazard a guess as to how much the No.6 fuel in one of these tanks must be worth?

Drive up money box

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This bank kiosk is certainly an eye-catching red. I like the contrast with the old fashioned lights close by. This ATM is located down the street from yesterday's post, the lighthouse gas station on the Southern Artery.